Method of gunfire control for battleships



Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

nire s TES ELMER A. SPERRY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SPERRY GYROSCOPE COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF GUNFIRE CONTROL FOR BATTLESHIPS.

Original application led September 30, 1916, Serial No. 123,155. Divided and this application led July 2, 1920. Serial lvm-393,557.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER A. SPrinRY, a citizen of the United States of America, re,- siding at 1505 Albemarle Road, Brooklyn, N. Y., in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Gunfire Control for Battleships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gunfire control of warships, and means for discharging the ships guns at the most advantageous point in the rolling cycle of the ship. In my patents on ships gyroscopes No. 1,159,311, granted August 17, 1915, and ship stabilizing and rolling apparatus No.l 1,232,619, granted July 10, 1917, and my copending application, Serial No. 123,155 for means for governing the rolling of ships, filed September 30, 1916` of which this application is a division, is shown apparatus which may be used either to stabilize or roll a ship. Like-- wise such apparatus may be advantageously employed to secure the absolute precession and timing of the gunfire of warships.

The primary purpose of a battleship is to shoot straight.' It has long been appreciated that the rolling and pitching of the ship very seriously impair the effectiveness of gunfire. In studying the characteristics of rolling, it has been found that when vessels, such as battleships and cruisers. roll less than a certain amount, the roll is attended with certain peculiarities, or idiosyncracies. The roll is found to be fitful and not dependable, the ship generally rolling twice and sometimes three times in the same direction before rolling back. Therefore it cannot be relied upon in attempting to anticipate the laying of ordnance in elevation for the most effective gunnery. Be- -yond this critical point in the amplitude of roll of a ship however, true periodicity permanently sets in and becomes. therefore, perfectly dependable. When this characteristic roll is present, it is found that ordnance may be accurately laid in elevation, and if some device were provided whereby the amplitude may be held constant, then no change need be made in the elevation of the guns, except for change of range. Thus the new system of so-called director firing, that is, firing all guns simultaneously at a certain predetermined point of the oscillation due to the rolling can be brought to a very much higher legree of perfection than ever possible beore.

The specific object of the invention then 1s .to devise an apparatus for accomplishing thls purpose. To this end, I have improved upon and adapted the gyroscopic apparatus disclosed in the above mentioned patents. Another object of the invention is to insure the firing of the guns at the proper point in the period of the roll of the ship.

Referring to the drawings in which, what I now consider to be the preferred forms of my invention are shown:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the master or control gyroscopes.

F 2 is a plan View thereof.

F 1g. 3 is a plan view on a much smaller scale of the main stabilizing gyroscopes, also showing the diagrammatical control gyroscopes and the wiring connections between them and the stabilizing gyroscopes.

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the connections f or utilizing my device to control'the fire of the guns.

Fig. -isa detail of the master gyroscopes.

According to this invention, a device which is responsive to the rolling of the ship is used as a master governor. This device is. somewhat similar in its action to a pendulum and consists preferably of one or more gyroscopes 1 and 2. These gyroscopes are shown mounted on horizontal spinning axes within vertical rings 3 and't. The rings in turn are pivoted about vertical pivots 5 and 6, within fixed bearing rings 7 and 8. The rings 3 and 4l are coupled for equal and opposite turning about vertical axes by means such as a link 9, pivoted to brackets 10 and l1, extending from vsaidv rings. The gyroscopes are mounted on the ship with their spinning axes athwartship (see fore and aft line 2, Fig. 2), so that the rolling of the ship will cause precession of the gyroscopes abouttheir vertical axes 5 and 6. The gyroscopes are preferably centralized by means of compression springs v13 and 14 which bear against pins 16 and 16', slidably mounted in fixed brackets 15 and 15. A lug 17 extending from ring 4 is adapted to strike either onel or the other ofpins 15 and 15 whenthe gyroscope preccsses. Preferably a small space is left between the ends of the pins and said lug for purposes hereinafter described. A fixed contact piece 18 is shown attached to vertical ring 3 and is adapted to strike on precession of the gyro, either one or the other of adjustable contacts `19 or 19. These contacts control the stabilizing or rolling means for the ship.

Also projecting from said ring 3 is shown a member 20, yieldingly held between a pair of pivoted arms 21 and 22. The arms may be geared together as by means of gears 23 and are yieldingly pressed toward each other by means of spring 24. The piston 25, of a dashpot 26 is pivotally connected to a rod 227 extending from one arm so that the return of the arms 21 and 22 under the iniuence of spring 24 to their closed position after being opened will be retarded by means of the dashpot. A contact 27 is positioned'so as vto be engaged by a trolley or brush 28 on rod 29, extending from arm 22. Preferably the contact is adjustable by means such as screws 30 and 30.

The 'action of this device is as follows: As explained above, the object of the invention isto maintain a predetermined amplitude of roll of the ship. As the ship rocks, the contacts 18 and 20 are applied to control the stabilizing or rolling appara-tus.4

If the ship is rolling less than the predetermined amount, the contacts are so arranged as to increasel the rolling. If, on the other hand, the ship rolls more than the predetermined amount, the arms 21 and 22 will be-opened sufficiently to complete contacts 27 vand 28, which, by means such as hereinafter described, reverses the action of the contacts so that the stabilizing or rolling apparatus will then begin to quench the rolling of the ship.

Said stabilizing or rolling apparatus preferably consists of one ormore large gyroscopes 31 and 32, firmly secured to the ship. Apparatus of this kind, performing as it does a double function, may be termed a means for exerting periodic rolling torques on the ship since no matter whether it is rolling or stabilizing the ship, it exerts said torques, the only difference being that in the former case the torques are in synchronism with the roll while in the latter they are displaced 180 in the cycle. The gyroscopes are shown as mounted on horizontal spinning axes 33 and 34 within casings 35, 35 which are pivotally mounted about vertical axes 36, 36 to the frame work 37 of the ship. VThe gyroscopes are adapted to be spun in opposite directions and are placec". with their spinning axes athwartships as indicated by .arrow 38. The gyroscopes are coupled for equal and opposite precession by means of gears 39 and 40. The power for controlling these gyroscopes from the master gyro may be furnished by a motor 41, which drives continuously in op-l lfectly and 130 posite directions a pair of beveled gears 42 and 43 loosely mounted upon shaft 44. A clutch 45 is adapted toV be thrown into engagement with a clutch face 46 on either of said gears so as to drive the shaft 44 in either direction. Said clutch is controlled by means of a plurality ofelectromagnets 47 and 48, which are in circuit With or controlled from the controlswitches above referred to. Shaft 44 carries a worm 49 which meshes with a worm wheel 50. On the shaft of said worm wheel is mounted a pinion 51, which connects it with gear 40 so that the motor 41 may exert torques about the precessional axes of the two gyros. When the device is operating to quench the rolling of the ship, the shaft 44 is driven'in a direction to cause or permit precession of the gyroscopes in the natural direction caused by the rollin-g of the ship. When the ship first starts to roll, the precession gear will accelerate the precession, but after the rolling has started, the gyroscopes will tend to precess faster than the worm vis turned by the motor so that the said worm acts as a brake on the gyroscopes. When the gyroscopes are acting to roll the ship, however, the shaft 44 is rotated in a direction to apply a torque on the gyroscopes in the opposite direction to the natural precession caused bythe rolling of the ship. In other words, the action of the precession vgear is exactly reversed.

For effecting this purpose. the contacts 27, 28 on gyroscope 1 (Fig. 3) are placed in circuit with an electromagnet 150 which actuates the reversing switch 151 in the circuit between contacts 19 and 19 and magnets 47 and-48, so that as long as the ship is exceeding a predetermined amplitude, the apparatus will act as a stabilizer, while when said limit is not exceeded, the circuit through magnet 150 will be broken and switch 151rotated by spring 152 to cause the apparatus to roll the ship.

Preferably, I also provide in connection with my stabilizing and rolling apparatus an automatic means whereby the guns or other ordinance appliances, such as torpedoes and the like, maybe fired at predetermined periods in the roll of the ship. By securing through my apparatus a perdefinite amplitude and period of roll and by providing an automatic apparatus for firing the guns at a predetermined point therein, absolute precision and timing of the fire may be obtained. This apparatus is preferably incorpoated as apart of the gyroscopes 1 and 2. As above stated the centralizing pins 16 and 16 are normally spaced ashortv distance from the projection 17 on ring 4, so that a slight amount of precession may take place in either direction before the pins are struck. Contact members 130 (see Figs. 4 and 5) are provided on 'the .pins while the projection 17 is also made in the form of a contact so that when they gyroscope precesses in either direction, a circuit will be completed. The outer end of the pins may be also provided with contacts 131 and 131 adapted to strike other contacts 132 and 132', after a predetermined precession has taken place against the action of the centralizing spring 13 and 14. The first pair ofthe above described contacts constitutes one method for firing the guns 50 when the ship is at one or the other limits of its roll, that is when the ship is starting to swing `back on the reverse r'oll, since the moment the direc-tion of rolll changes the gyroscopes will start to precess in the other direction and` hence move against the other contacts `130`or 130. Contacts 131 and 132, on the other hand, constitute a means for firing the guns 50 when the ship reaches its maximum velocity of roll. whichit will be readily understood is normally when passing through its 'horizontal position. As the gyroscopes normally maintain a definite amplitude of roll, the position of contacts 130, 132 and the tension of springs 13 and 14 may be nicely adjusted to fire the guns at the exact maximum velocity since the torque exerted by the gyroscopes on the springs due to their precession is directly proportional to the velocity of roll. Other methods of securing the above results, other than by the v arrangement of contacts described, will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Means for selecting the proper contacts and controlling the firing of the 4guns from the same is shown in Fig. 4. In this figure the switch 133 represents the tiring button pushed by the fire control oiiicer. As this button is pressed into engagement with contact 134, it displaces the springr pressed catch 135 so that the catch will snap over the button and hold it in engagement with contact 134 until withdrawn. An uelectromagnet 136 or similar means in circuit with the said button and the above described contacts is designed to withdraw the catch as soon as current flows through the circuit, in other words, as soon as the' guns 50 are tired. A retarding device such as dash pot 17 0 may be attached to switch 133 to prevent break- Aing the circuit before the guns are fired. To

this end Contact 134 may be spring pressed so as to followthe switch a short distance. All of the contacts 130 to 132 aresconnected through a dduble throw switch 137 which is designed to cut in a selected pair of contacts and at the same time cut out the other pair so that the guns may be red when the ship is horizontal, or'when it is at its maximum inclination, as desired. Another switch 138 may also be provided which is designed to select which contact of the two contarts in each pair shall be used to tire thegun. In other words, these switches give the officer means for tiring when the ship is passing through its horizontal position either on the down roll or on theup roll 'and also when the guns are at either their wires in the guncartridges for firing the guns 5() (shown in dotted lines) are shown at 140 andthe source of electricity at 141.

A solenoid 93 may be provided in connection with thef brake mechanism, which solenoid is mounted near the stabilizing gyroscope, andi is pivotally connected to an arm 194 pivoted at 95 to which is secured a brake band 96 `extending entirely around the casing of gyroscope 31 within a guideway in or on brake drum 97. The brake is normally applied by means of a strong'tension spring 98, but thesolenoid is. so connected as to hold the brake off when energized, so that the brake isonly applied when trolley .155- `rolls beyonds the end of conl tact 156.

Among the many advantages secured by "my'invention are the increased accuracy of gunfire, as explained, and a marked reduction in the capacity of stabilizing apparatus required. Thus, to stabilize a battleship in.

a sea which would normally roll at 10, to

vwithin 1- would require a much more'powerful stabilizing unit than that required to maintain a uniform roll of 5.

Thus in the use or constructionl of appara A tus according to my invention, only the lower half, or only lthe upper half so to speak, of the apparatus may be employed. That is, the apparatus might be built, or in any event in a fairly calm sea would operate,'only to roll the shi which means would be thrown out or ren ered inoperative beyond a predetermined amplitude. Similarly the stabilizing eect only need be, or, in a rough sea, would be employed, which effect would be brought into actionA when the roll exceeds a predetermined, amplitude.

In accordance'with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the v,principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus, which I now con` sider to represent the besembodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatusv shown is only illustrative and that the invention canbe `carried out by other means. I Also, while it is designed to use the variotis features and elements in the combination and relations described, some of these may be altered and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extendsto such use.

Having described claim and my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The` combination With a ship, of means for controlling the roll of the ship, an ordnance applicance on said ship, and means governed by said controlling means for controlling the discharge of said appliance.

2. The combination With a ship and a gun mounted thereon, ofV a gyroscope mounted on the ship for precession on rolling thereof, and means responsive to a change in the directionJ of precession for`firing the gun.

3. The combination with a ship and an ordnance appliance mounted thereon, of means for discharging saidappliance and means controlled by reversal in the direction of roll of the ship for governing said con? troly means.

4:. The combination with a ship, of a gyroscope mounted thereon so as to precess on movement of the ship about an axis, an ordnance appliance thereon, and .means brought into 4action by the precession of said gyroscope for firing said appliance.

' The combination With a ship and a gun mounted thereon, of a gyroscope mounted on the ship'for precession on rolling thereof, and means responsive to the maximum precession for firing the gun.

Y thereof, means responsive 6.. The combination with a vship and an ordnance appliance thereon, of means for maintaining a periodic"V- roll thereof, and means responsive to a reversal in the direction of roll for discharging sand-appliance.,y

7 The combination withl a ship and a guni mounted thereon,1of means for exerting pea gyroscope mounted thereon forV precession onvrolling to a predetermined precession of said gyroscope for changing the direction of the torque applied with respect to the roll of the ship, and means also responsive to a predetermined procession for firing the gun.

8. The combination With a ship anda gun mounted thereon, of means for exerting periodic rolling torques thereon, a gyroscope mounted thereon for precession on rolling thereof, means responsive to a predetermined thereof, and means controlled by said motion-` for governing the discharge lof said appliance.

10. The combination With a ship and an ordnance appliance thereon, of means for maintaining a periodic roll thereof, and means for discharging said appliance at a predetermined point in the' roll.

11. The combination with a shipand an ordnance appliance thereon, of means for maintaining a periodic roll thereof, and means responsive to the mar'rilnum velocity of roll for discharging said appliance. i

l2. In combination with a ship, an ordnance appliance mounted thereon, and common means for controlling the roll of .the ship and the discharge of said appliance.

13. In combination with a ship, an ordnance appliance on said ship, and means for converting the rolling movements of the ship into movements of predetermined amplitude, and for 'causing said appliance to be discharged at a predetermined point in said movements In testimony whereof I haveaiiixed my signature.

ELMER A. SPERRY. 

